If you are new on the job or seeking a promotion, it’s important to show enthusiasm. Leaders and co-workers want to work with someone who is motivated to fulfill an array of projects and responsibilities. Sometimes it can be draining to maintain enthusiasm throughout the workday, particularly if your work is stressful or you must multi-task often. It's easier to build enthusiasm into work habits so that being cheerful on the job is second nature. With practice, it won’t be so exhausting to show enthusiasm for work.

Impressing the Boss

Because the boss evaluates your work, you should be enthusiastic whenever she's around. Plan to be well prepared, full of ideas and cheerful about current tasks and upcoming projects. Bring your smile and enthusiasm to one-on-one meetings with the boss, team meetings, presentations to clients, professional development seminars, networking events, fundraisers and any other venues where the boss will observe your professional behavior and representation of the organization.

Taking on More Projects

Showing enthusiasm involves more than just sharing a cheerful disposition. You can be more of an asset to your boss and colleagues by exhibiting a willingness to take on more projects. This requires you to be efficient at your ongoing duties and open to new things. When you volunteer to help a colleague with a project or take the lead yourself, you could be challenged to perform tasks or prepare information beyond your range of experience. Be careful when the pressure builds up for you to perform well on a new project that you don't go back to customary methods of work. It's important to stretch yourself and seek advice from others in the organization.

Showing Interest in Your Work

Enthusiasm also entails demonstrating interest in your day-to-day tasks. For example, you can describe your job tasks with interest when training a new employee, and you can offer tips for getting the job done more efficiently to others performing the same task. Offer suggestions to the boss to streamline work processes in your department and propose new projects that will motivate the team to increase its collective performance. Use positive language in email communications to your boss, colleagues and customers. Anywhere that you show negativity, such as in an email or a workplace lunch, would create doubt about the sincerity of your enthusiasm in other areas of work.

Attending to Hobbies

You can also show more enthusiasm by developing outside hobbies. For example, you can develop skills in web design and take on small projects to keep your creativity. This satisfaction will make your regular work more pleasant. Also, you can find ways to bring hobbies to the workplace for the benefit of the organization. For example, if you've honed your web design talents moonlighting as a web designer, you can offer assistance to the boss or a manager of another department when you become aware of a need for your skills. Remember to balance what you promise to other people with attention to your regular duties.

About the Author

Audra Bianca has been writing professionally since 2007, with her work covering a variety of subjects and appearing on various websites. Her favorite audiences to write for are small-business owners and job searchers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and a Master of Public Administration from a Florida public university.